Students

The Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic gives law students the opportunity to learn the theory, skills, and practice methods of transactional lawyering through reflective, supervised practice for organizational clients. Students learn how transactional law can be used in the public interest.

Sample Syllabus

Student Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in the Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Law Clinic assume the role of a transactional attorney and develop a variety of lawyering skills. Students are also evaluated on the basis of their educational commitment.

LAWYERING ROLE

Having students assume the role and responsibilities of a lawyer is a foundation of clinical legal education. Students in the Clinic assume the role of an attorney in all of its manifestations.

A. Ethical Considerations

Professional responsibility is an indispensable feature of good lawyering. Knowledge of and adherence to ethical rules is obviously necessary to practice law. Below are student learning objectives related to professional responsibility that the student develops in the Clinic.

The Clinic Student:

Protects client confidences

Demonstrates competence and diligence

Raises ethical concerns to professors

Demonstrates intellectual honesty

B. Zealous Representation & Professionalism

Professional responsibility is not limited to the ethical considerations of lawyering. It also includes a student’s effort in the representation of her clients and management of her workload. Below are student learning objectives related to zealous representation and professionalism that the student develops in the Clinic.

The Clinic Student:

Puts forth effort to provide the best legal representation of client possible

Takes personal responsibility for a client project

Prepares for supervision meetings with professors in a manner that reflects initiative and responsibility for client project

Studies problem or issue before asking for supervisory assistance

Prepares for client interaction and representation of client to third parties

Maintains appropriate and professional relationships with client and other professionals he/she interacts with through the clinic

LAWYERING SKILLS

Work in the Clinic provides students with the opportunity to develop a wide variety of lawyering skills. Below are student learning objectives related to lawyering skills that the student develops in the Clinic.

The Clinic Student:

Transaction/Project Planning:

Develops a theory and plan for each client project; modifies and reassesses project plan in light of subsequent developments and client and professor input

Considers the ethical, strategic, and client-specific issues in each project

Anticipates logistical and other lead-time items within project calendar; diligently carries out plan

Meets deadlines imposed by the client, by professors, and on own initiative; finishes the client project when expected

Engages in active listening during interviews, reflected in knowledge developed

Obtains necessary information in client interview(s) to precisely define scope of work for client, client’s full range of legal needs, and other client-specific contexts needed to accomplish client work

Provides draft and final work product in accordance with clients’ expectations and needs

EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

Clinic seminar is an important aspect of a student’s work in the Clinic. Students’ thoughtful contributions are essential to the success of the Clinic. Below are student learning objectives related to educational commitment that a student is expected to perform in the Clinic.

The Clinic Student:

Prepares for class

Attends class and supervision session on-time

Participates in class in a meaningful manner

Participates in simulations and execution of assignments, while remaining in role

Demonstrates initiative and creativity in raising issues and problem-solving in clinic rounds

Reflection & Self-Assessment

Reflection factors into all three major student learning objectives. Reflection is a critical feature of clinical legal education. Clinic students do not just “learning by doing” but also maximize their learning potential through reflection. In the clinical setting, reflection means thinking in a disciplined manner about what the student does as a student-lawyer. Students articulate observations about their actions in order to comprehend and integrate new knowledge so that it can become the basis for their future actions. Learning how to reflect on lawyering allows students to engage in a life-long learning process that will enable students to move from novices to experts.